Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Your GOLD Plan?
The GOLD PLAN is our in-house dental plan.
(To maintain membership annual radiographs and check-ups required)
One low annual membership fee:
- $200 per Family
- $150 per Person
What are the benefits?
- 20% – 30% Discount off all services
- No annual maximums
- No deductibles
- No waiting periods
- No denials
What insurances do you accept?
We accept most insurances and are preferred providers (PPO) for Aetna, MetLife, Delta Dental, Cigna, CHP, United Concordia and others. In addition, we also accept Medicaid for children 18 and under and adults in need of dentures only. NOTE: For uninsured patients, we are able to offer CareCredit. (Click To Apply)
NEW: If you don’t have insurance, check out our new in-house dental plan called the GOLD PLAN. Click here for more information.
Does my insurance pay 100% of all my procedures?
How are deductibles and co-payments considered?
When estimating dental benefits, deductibles and percentages must be considered.
To illustrate, assume the fee for service is $150.00. Assuming that the insurance company allows $150.00 as its usual and customary (UCR) fee, we can figure out what benefits will be paid.
First a deductible (paid by you), on average $50, is subtracted, leaving $100.00. The plan then pays 80% for this particular procedure. The insurance company will then pay 80% of $100.00, or $80.00. Out of a $150.00 fee they will pay an estimated $80.00 leaving a remaining portion of $70.00 (to be paid by the patient). Of course, if the UCR is less than $150.00 or your plan pays only at 50% then the insurance benefits will also be significantly less.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, please keep us informed of any insurance changes such as policy name, insurance company address, or a change of employment.
What form of payment do you accept?
Are benefits determined by the dental office?
You may have noticed that sometimes your dental insurer reimburses you or the dentist at a lower rate than the dentist’s actual fee. Frequently, insurance companies state that the reimbursement was reduced because your dentist’s fee has exceeded the usual, customary, or reasonable fee (“UCR”) used by the company.
A statement such as this gives the impression that any fee greater than the amount paid by the insurance company is unreasonable, or well above what most dentists in the area charge for a certain service. This can be very misleading and simply is not accurate.
Insurance companies set their own schedules, and each company uses a different set of fees they consider allowable. These allowable fees may vary widely, because each company collects fee information from claims it processes. The insurance company then takes this data and arbitrarily chooses a level they call the “allowable” UCR Fee. Frequently, this data can be three to five years old and these “allowable” fees are set by the insurance company so they can make a net 20%-30% profit.
Unfortunately, insurance companies imply that your dentist is “overcharging”, rather than say that they are “underpaying”, or that their benefits are low. In general, the less expensive insurance policy will use a lower usual, customary, or reasonable (UCR) figure.
What are common brushing mistakes?
Not Using the Right Toothbrush
Consider the size of your mouth when picking a toothbrush. If you are straining to open wide enough to let the brush in, the brush is probably too big. The handle has to be comfortable. It should feel as comfortable as holding a fork when you eat. The more comfortable it is in your hand and your mouth, then the more likely you will use it and use it properly.
Not Picking the Right Bristle
Some toothbrushes have angled bristles, others straight. So is one type better? The answer is no. It’s more related to technique than the bristles. What is important when buying a toothbrush is the stiffness of the bristles. The ADA recommends a soft-bristled brush. Bristles should be sturdy enough to remove plaque but not hard enough to damage the teeth or gums when used properly.
Not Brushing Often Enough or Long Enough
Softly brushing your teeth at least twice a day is recommended but three times a day is best. With too much time between brushings, bacterial plaque will build up, boosting the risk of gum inflammation and other problems. Brushing should last at least two minutes, three minutes is even better. Most people fall short of these timelines. For children, sometimes it helps to place a digital timer on the counter or even a radio so that they can brush for the duration of a song.
Not Brushing Correctly
Long horizontal strokes along the gum line can lead to abrasions. Aim your bristles at the gum line at a 45-degree angle and do short strokes or vibrations. Softly brush up and down your teeth, not across your teeth. The strokes should be vertical, not horizontal. Be sure to brush outer and inner tooth surfaces, the chewing surfaces, and your tongue.
Not Letting the Toothbrush Dry If you have a toothbrush that’s perpetually moist, it will cultivate more bacteria. It’s a good idea to shake out the moisture, then recap the brush or wipe with a paper towel.
Not Changing the Toothbrush Often Enough
The American Dental Association recommends a new brush every three or four months, or even sooner if the bristles look frayed. But rather than go by a strict timeline, a visual inspection of the bristles is better. Once the bristles lose their normal flexibility and start to break apart, change your toothbrush. Some brushes also have colored indicators that alert you when they need replacing.
Are electric toothbrushes better?
Power Toothbrushes – Electric and Sonic
Electric:
With 3,000 to 7,500 rotating motions a minute, electric toothbrushes are powered to replicate the motion of your hand—doing the muscle work for you. The bristles of these brushes either rotate or move back and forth to help remove plaque and reduce gingivitis.
Sonic:
Offering 30,000 to 40,000 strokes per minute, sonic toothbrushes rotate in a back and forth vibrating motion. The rapid motion is the sonic toothbrushes claim to fame. For a little bit of perspective, the old-fashioned way of brushing your teeth rings in at about 300 strokes per minute—if you brush properly. SO over the two-minute recommended brushing time, your teeth are hit with 600 strokes… a far cry from the thousands you might get with the high-tech variety.
Technology and Features:
- Numerous brushing modes specialized for sensitive teeth, whitening benefits or gum-massaging action
- Pressure sensors to signal when you’re brushing too hard
- Timers to help you keep track of how long you’re brushing each quadrant of your mouth
- Multiple brush head compatibility so you can choose which kind of bristle design your prefer
Benefits of Power Toothbrushes
Several studies have indicated that sonic and electric toothbrushes have an edge on the regular manual brush you hold in your hand in that they are better at reducing plaque and gingivitis both in the short and long term. Electric or sonic toothbrushes may be easier for people with dexterity problems like arthritis to handle and control resulting in cleaner teeth and gums.
What is dry mouth?
Dental Health and Dry Mouth
We all need saliva to moisten and cleanse our mouths and digest food. Saliva also prevents infection by controlling bacteria and fungi in the mouth. When we don’t produce enough saliva, our mouth gets dry and uncomfortable. Fortunately, there are many effective treatments for dry mouth.
What Causes Dry Mouth?
There are several causes of dry mouth, also called xerostomia.
- Dry mouth is a common side effect of many prescription and nonprescription drugs.
- Dry mouth can be a side effect of medical conditions. Including Sjogren’s Syndrome, HIV/AIDS, Alzheimer’s Disease, Diabetes, Anemia, Cystic Fibrosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Hypertension, Parkinson’s Disease, Stroke, to name a few.
- Dry mouth can also be brought on or caused by certain medical treatments. Damage to the salivary glands from radiation to the head and neck and chemotherapy treatments for cancer, can reduce the amount of saliva produced.
- Lifestyle. Smoking or chewing tobacco and regular use of alcohol can affect saliva production.
What Are The Symptoms of Dry Mouth?
Common symptoms include:
- A sticky, dry feeling in the mouth or throat
- Frequent thirst
- Sores in the mouth; sores or split skin at the corners of the mouth; cracked lips
- Bad breath
- A burning or tingling sensation in the mouth and especially the tongue
- A dry red, raw tongue
Why is Dry Mouth a Problem?
Besides causing the aggravating symptoms mentioned above, dry mouth also increases a person’s risk of gingivitis (gum disease), tooth decay, and mouth infections, such as thrush. Dry mouth can also make it difficult to wear dentures.
How Is Dry Mouth Treated?
If you think that your dry mouth is caused by a certain medication you are taking, talk to your doctor. He or she may adjust the dose you are taking or switch you to a different drug that doesn’t cause dry mouth. In addition, an oral rinse to restore mouth moisture may be prescribed. If that doesn’t help, a medication that stimulates saliva production called Salagen, may be prescribed.
Steps You Can Take That May Help Improve Saliva Flow:
- Sucking on sugar free candy or chewing sugar free gum
- Drinking plenty of water to help keep your mouth moist and rinse away bacteria
- Protecting your teeth by brushing with a fluoride toothpaste, using a fluoride rinse, and visiting your dentist regularly
- Breathing through your nose, not your mouth, much possible
- Using a room vaporizer to add moisture to the air
- Using an over the counter saliva substitute such as Biotene
What is gum disease?
The Role of Dental Exams in Preventing Gum Disease
Unfortunately, by the time most people notice any of the warning signs of periodontitis, it’s too late to reverse the damage. That’s why regular dental checkups are so important. Dentists and hygienists spot trouble in the form of pockets of inflammation or places where gum tissue doesn’t appear healthy.
With regular dental exams, the condition of your gum tissue can be compared over time. Any recession that has taken place is noted and dental x-rays can reveal early signs of gum disease. Pocket depths around the teeth are recorded at regular intervals to allow for exam comparisons.
Catching signs of gum disease early may be far more important than previously thought. Moderate to advanced periodontal disease can cause tooth loss, but it may also cause other health problems.
2 types of Gum Disease
Gum disease takes two forms: gingivitis and periodontitis.
Gingivitis occurs when bacteria collect in tiny pockets at the gum line, causing inflammation. The most common symptoms are bleeding when teeth are brushed or flossed and may be accompanied by bad breath or a funny taste in the mouth. If gingivitis goes untreated, the inflammation can invade connective tissue and even bone. This disease process leads to periodontitis.
Periodontitis symptoms include: Receding gums, gum pain and/or bleeding, shifting, mobility, or even loss of teeth. Bad breath and or a funny taste in the mouth almost always accompany periodontal disease.
Although most people believe that a little bit of bleeding while they brush is acceptable or normal, this is not the case. Consider this analogy: if your hands bled whenever you washed them, would you think it’s normal or acceptable?
Periodontal Disease Affects Your Health
Periodontal disease is an inflammation process the affects the whole body. The elevated levels of inflammation are linked to a wide range of diseases, such as: Heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, and even infertility.
It is widely known that when the level of inflammation in the body is reduced, people with heart disease and diabetes tend to have fewer complications. One of the easiest ways to reduce inflammation is to treat periodontal disease.
Prevention and Treatment of Gum Disease
Proper dental hygiene can go a long way toward preventing gum disease and most of us know the basics:
- Brush your teeth at least twice a day for 2 minutes and floss at least once a day.
- Professional dental cleanings at regularly scheduled intervals partners well and compliments your daily home routine.
Managing Periodontitis
Managing periodontitis is more complex, because the inflammation has already invaded below the gum line. The first step is to remove plaque and tartar from below the gum line. This may require a local anesthetic and more than one visit to the dental hygienist. After treatment, good dental care can help reduce the risk of further inflammation and damage. Your dental hygienist may also recommend more frequent checkups to monitor gum health.
Periodontitis is a serious condition that needs to be managed carefully, but with regular periodontal care, we can keep gums healthy and prevent tooth loss.